Folding armachair



p 2, 1953 J. G. BARSNESS 2,652,884

FOLDING ARMCHAIR Filed Jan. 28, 1950 INVENTOR." John G.Barsness ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 22, 1953 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE FOLDING ARMCHAIR John Gulson Barsness, Black Earth, Wis. Application January 28, 1950, Serial No. 141,011

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a folding armchair wherein the frame of the chair is constructed of lightweight metal tubing or the like and the seat and back are of canvas or other suitable pliable material.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to reduce the number of parts necessary for the frame construction and to simplify the construction and assembly of the parts.

Another object of the invention is to increase the combined strength and rigidity of the frame without requiring an increase in material strength of the individual elements, whereby a lightweight chair may be constructed of substantial rigidity and serviceability.

Another object is to provide a folding armchair in which the individual members reinforce each other and combine in supporting the load.

Another object is to remove torsional stress of pivotal joints in such a chair, whereby the joints may be of simple construction and of long life.

Another object is to simplify the foldability of such an armchair and to reduce the space require-- ments thereof when folded.

The invention is illustrated in ing drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the chair in upright position;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View showing the chair in a partially folded position;

Fig. 3 Ba perspective view showing the chair completely folded;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail View partially in section showing one of the pivotal joints;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view partially in section showing the rear seat support member; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of arate from the chair.

The chair is constituted of four tubular frame units, each embodying a single piece of metal tubing bent to provide a pair of side members connected together at one end by a cross member whereby each unit is a single piece U-shaped rigid frame in itself. In all but one instance the open ends of the units are secured to another unit near to the closed end of the latter thereby providing the rigidity of a substantially rectangular frame. And in the one instance where the open end of one unit is secured near the open end of another unit one of the open ends has its ends bent toward one another into alignment and secured rigidly in abutting relation thereby simulating a closed end.

Referring t the e e al f a e unit the legs the accompanythe arm unit sepof the chair comprise two cross units I and 2, each having their closed ends disposed downwardly to support the chair on the floor.

The rear leg unit I is narrower than front leg unit 2 so that the upwardly and rearwardly extending sides 3 of unit I pass between the upwardly and forwardly extending sides 4 of unit 2. The sides 3 are pivotally secured at 5 t0 the corresponding sides 4 by suitable rivet pins 5, or the like, shown in detail in Fig. a. The pivotal connections 5 are located substantially centrally of the sides 3 and 4 so that the latter are foldable to adjacent positions, and when open take the general form of an X.

The frame unit 7 constituting the back of the chair has its closed end at the top, and its sides 8 extend downwardly to pivotally connect at 9, with the upper ends of the corresponding sides 3 of unit I.

The upper ends of sides 3 of unit I are bent toward each other into alignment and abutting relation and are rigidly secured together by an insert l 0 which is telescoped by the abutting tubular frame elements and secured in place by means of indentations H formed inwardly from the tube and into the insert, or by other suitable means.

The arm unit l2 completes the frame and has its closed end extend across the front of the seat with the upper ends of sides l of the front leg unit 2 pivotally secured to the sides l3 just above the corresponding curved corner of the unit. The sides !3 of unit I 2 extend upwardly and rearwardly from the front of the seat to an arm level and then rearwardly to back unit I where they are pivotally attached at Hi to the corresponding sides 8 about centrally of the heighth of the latter.

The seat for the chair comprises a canvas or other suitable foldable seat member [5 secured upon the closed front cross member of arm unit It and to the closed rear cross member of rear leg unit I.

The back for the chair comprises a canvas or other suitable member I6 extending across the upper portion of the back unit and secured around the side members 8 above the pivotal connections It which support the same against dropping downwardly. An additional support for back It may be provided in the form of the strap I! extending over the upper closed cross member of back unit 1.

In order to retain seat member !5 substantially horizontal when the chair is open and supported upon a horizontal floor, the forward upper ends of sides 4 of unit 2 are curved upwardly to meet the corresponding side arms l2 to which they are pivotally connected by joints [8.

The chair shown may be folded readily into a compact unit as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 by moving the upper cross members to which seat 15 is secured toward each other and tilting the back unit rearwardly until it folds back against the leg units.

The framework of the chair may be constructed of any suitable lightweight material such as extruded tubing of aluminum alloy.

Various embodiments of the invention may be employed within the scope of the accompanying claim.

I claim:

In a folding armchair of tubular metal construction comprising a substantially rectangularly shaped leg unit extending upwardly and rearwardly, a generally U-shaped leg unit with the open end extending upwardly and forwardly, said leg units being pivotally connected centrally of their upwardly extending sides, a. back unit of generally U-shap with. the open end connected to the sides of said first named leg unit somewhat forwardly and downwardly of its rear edge, a generally U-shape single piece arm unit with its open end pivotally attached to said back unit at an armrest height above the chair seat, the forward ends of the sides of said arm unit being bent downwardly to dispose the transverse cross member thereof in the approximate plan of the chair seat at the forward edge of the seat, and the open end of said second named leg unit being bent upwardly and pivotally attached to the downwardly bent sides of said arm unit slightly above and rearwardly of the transverse cross member of said arm unit.

JOHN GULSON BARSNESS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 40,210 Golightly Oct. 6, 1863 43,366. Golightly June 28, 1864 2,573,915 Lewis Nov. 6, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 669,494 France Aug. 5, 1929 468,736 Germany Nov. 22, 1928 4,79 Great Britain Nov. 21, 1879 

